Distribution and determinants of risk of teenage motherhood in three British longitudinal studies: implications for targeted prevention interventions

Kneale, D., Fletcher, Adam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6705-7659, Wiggins, R. and Bonell, Chris 2012. Distribution and determinants of risk of teenage motherhood in three British longitudinal studies: implications for targeted prevention interventions. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 67 (1) , pp. 48-55. 10.1136/jech-2011-200867

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Abstract

Purpose: In order to consider the potential contribution of universal versus targeted prevention interventions, the authors examined what is the distribution of established risk variables for teenage motherhood? from where in these distributions do births arise? and how does this distribution/determination of risk vary between studies? Methods: Secondary data analysis of three British longitudinal studies. Results: For all cohorts and variables, the ‘risk’ category was the least frequent. Continuous risk factors were normally distributed. A high rate of teenage motherhood within a risk category often translated into low ‘contribution’ to the overall rate (eg, expectation to leave school at the minimum age among the 1989/1990-born cohort) and vice versa. Most young women had a low probability of teenage motherhood. For any targeting strategy, combining risk factors and a low threshold of predicted probability would be necessary to achieve adequate sensitivity. Assessing between-cohort applicability of findings, the authors find that the numbers of teenage parents is poorly estimated and estimates of the variability and direction of risk may also be inadequate. Conclusions: With reference to a number of established risk factors, there is not a core of easily identifiable multiply disadvantaged girls who go on to constitute the majority of teenage mothers in these studies. While individual risk factors are unlikely to enable targeting, a composite may have some limited potential, albeit with a low threshold for ‘risk’ and with the caveat that evidence from one population may not inform good targeting in another. It is likely that universal approaches will have more impact.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing
ISSN:	0143-005x
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	02 May 2023 12:16
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/53144

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